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Alex Stalock are the other unrestricted
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- First half strikes by Islam Slimani and Rafik Halliche helped Algeria to beat South Korea 4-2 on Sunday and become the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup match. Jim McMahon Jersey . Algeria led 3-0 at halftime, but withstood a stronger South Korean second half performance to claim its first World Cup win since 1982 and move into second place in Group H with one match left to play. Defeat for South Korea means it must now beat already-qualified Belgium to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Belgium leads with six points, Algeria now has three, while Russia and the South Koreans have one apiece. Slimani, one of three Algeria scorers who didnt start in the opening 2-1 loss to Belgium, broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a fine solo goal, running onto a through ball between two defenders and then touching it past Jung Sung-ryong. Two minutes after the restart, defender Rafik Halliche powerfully headed in a corner after Jung came off his line but failed to make contact with the ball. Algeria added a third goal in the 38th when Abdelmoumene Djabou side-footed home from close to the penalty spot after Slimani pulled the ball back for him. South Korea didnt manage a shot on target all half, and struggled to break down Algerias attacks. However, it was far more positive after the break and pulled a goal back in the 48th minute when Son Heung-min shot through the legs of Rais Mbolhi. Hopes of a remarkable comeback were soon extinguished, though, when swift passing by Slimani put Yacini Brahimi through on a counter attack to make it 4-1. South Korea captain Koo Ja-cheol bundled the ball home on 72 minutes from close range, but Algerias defence held on to secure a historic victory. Walter Payton Jersey . After a tight first half, the Croatians took command in Reykjavik after Skulason was dismissed for a professional foul in the 51st minute, but couldnt find a way past Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and his packed defence. Eduardo had a weak shot cleared away from near the goalline after barely a minute for Croatia, whose substitute Ivica Olic forced a fine reaction save from Halldorsson in the 55th. Steve Fuller Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks are bringing back coach Todd McLellan and general manager Doug Wilson for another season despite another early playoff flop. Owner Hasso Plattner said Wednesday he was accepting Wilsons recommendation to keep McLellan after the Sharks became just the fourth NHL team ever to lose a best-of-seven playoff series after winning the first three games. "I am very disappointed in the way our team finished the 2013-14 season," Plattner said in a statement. "Gaining a 3-0 series advantage and being unable to advance is a major blow to our organization and fan base. Our teams have been consistently built to go deep into the playoffs and this goal wont change. "Doug Wilson and I have met over the past two weeks. He has shared his support of the coaching staff, as well as his recommended changes to our teams roster, and he has my complete support moving forward." Plattner also thanked fans for their support and said he is not satisfied with the performance the past few seasons and believes a plan is in place to improve on those results. "I am confident that with the proposed changes, Doug and his staff will build a team we can all be proud of," Plattner said. The Sharks have a 271-130-57 record in six seasons under McLellan, posting the second-most wins inn the NHL in that span to Pittsburgh. Dan Fortmann Jersey. San Jose made back-to-back conference finals under McLellan, losing in four games to Chicago in 2010 and in five games the following season to Vancouver. The Sharks have won only one playoff series in McLellans other four seasons, losing in the first round to Anaheim in 2009, St. Louis in 2011 and Los Angeles this season. San Jose swept Vancouver in the first round in 2013 before losing a seven-game series to the Kings. Wilson became general manager in May 2003 and has built playoff teams every season. The Sharks have the second-most points in the regular season the past 10 seasons but are still looking for their first Stanley Cup appearance. The Sharks have most of their key pieces under control for next season after signing captain Joe Thornton and all-time leading goal scorer Patrick Marleau to three-year extensions in January. The most prominent unrestricted free agent is 37-year-old defenceman Dan Boyle. Forwards Bracken Kearns and Mike Brown, defenceman Scott Hannan and backup goalie Alex Stalock are the other unrestricted free agents. The team also could use one of its two compliance buyouts to cut ties with unproductive forward Marty Havlat, who is owed $6 million next season in the final year of his contract. ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
